New Orleans Bowl

NEW ORLEANS  Five things to watch when San Diego State plays Louisiana-Lafayette in the New Orleans Bowl. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Saturday on ESPN:

1. Terrific tight ends: San Diego State head coach Rocky Long said the top two tight ends in this game are “mirror images” of each other, with both presenting matchup problems for the opposing defense. Louisiana-Lafayette senior Ladarius Green (6-foot-6, 236) is tied with SDSU sophomore Gavin Escobar for third-most touchdown catches among tight ends with seven. Shorter, smaller defensive backs will have trouble keeping the ball away from both.

2. Run, Ronnie, Run: SDSU (8-4) is 12-2 the past two years when running back Ronnie Hillman rushes for at least 110 yards. Meanwhile, the Ragin’ Cajuns' defense hasn't been great against the run. They even gave up 206 yards this season to Western Kentucky running back Bobby Rainey. But they haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in four games since then. Eight of their 11 starters on defense are seniors, and they said their first priority in their last game is to stop the run.

3. Quarterback attack: If the Cajuns (8-4) somehow can contain Hillman, the burden shifts to senior quarterback Ryan Lindley, who’s had his ups and downs this season. This is his final game, so perhaps the biggest concern is that he’ll try to force the issue instead of just relaxing. That’s sort of what happened when the Aztecs lost at Michigan this season.

His counterpart is left-handed junior quarterback Blaine Gautier, who operates a spread passing game. He is more mobile and accurate than Lindley with a completion percentage of 63 percent. But he hasn't run into many defenses like SDSU's, which hopes to bring more big-play pressure to the backfield. Senior nose guard Jerome Long and senior linebacker Miles Burris would love to get to know him.

"He doesn't scramble much, but he can run," Long said of Gautier.

4. Controlled intensity: Bowl games often come down to which team is just happy to be there and which team is treating it more like a business trip. The Cajuns fan base is practically euphoric to be in a bowl game for the first time in 41 years. Cajun players also been in awe of practicing at the Superdome, home of the NFL Saints. Can they keep that energy focused?

"They're going to be excited out of their mind, I’ll tell you that, when they hit the field," Cajuns head coach Mark Hudspeth said. "Most of our guys grew up watching the Saints dreaming of playing on that field (at the Superdome)."

In SDSU's case, the team has enjoyed the trip, but it’s more business than party. Will the Aztecs have the right amount of intensity to start, or will they sleepwalk in the first half like they usually do?

5. Special surprises: The Cajuns have blocked three field goals this year and are 3-for-3 in recovering onside kicks, including one that helped the Cajuns come from behind to beat Louisiana-Monroe, 36-35, on Nov. 5. They’re also 10-for-13 on fourth-down conversions.

Asked if he was going to make similar risky calls in this final game, Hudspeth said, “We don’t have anything to lose, I can promise you that. We’re going to play hard, and there’s no reason to hold anything back for this last game. It’s not like anybody is going to scout you for next week.”